At press time, a motorcyclist had been pulled out of the rubble. He sustained injuries to his head.

Bridge concessionaire Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd public relations and communications deputy manager Azizi Azizan said the segment which collapsed was being cast at that time.

He said it happened after the scaffolding supporting it collapsed.

He added that investigations were being carried out to find out why both structures collapsed.

He said the segment was part of one of three ramps at the interchange linking the expressway to the bridge.

Azizi said two cranes were being used in the rescue efforts.

He added that further details would be provided today.

Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin, who was at the scene, said a 30m-long span of the ramp was believed to have collapsed.

At 9.20pm, state executive councillor Lim Hock Seng said the authorities had yet to confirm the cause of the accident.

Traffic policemen were deployed to the scene to direct traffic and the section of the expressway has been closed to facilitate rescue work.

Motorist R. Thilasheni, 24, whose car windscreen was shattered by a falling beam in the incident, was still in a state of shock.

“We were only three seconds away when the ramp collapsed. We were lucky to have come out alive,” she added.

She was travelling with her friend G. Gajashaantini, 24, at that time.

The RM4.4bil 24km-long bridge is scheduled for completion next month.

It will be the longest bridge in South-East Asia and the 20th longest in the world when completed. It is scheduled to go through road commissioning and testing in August before being officially opened in September.